Looking for suggestions on backsplash

12 years ago

While I wait for my open shelves to be installed and a few other finishing touches, I'm starting to think seriously about my backsplash. For awhile now I've been assuming I was going to go with a cermamic beadboard in white. I decided today to "draw" it out (on some plain white paper) and hang it up to see what it looked like. I'm really not loving it. Don't like the vertical lines because I think it looks a little busy. I'm very open to any and all suggestions. I'm leaning towards white because I'd like to "bring it out" as an accent color in the kitchen. Not married to it though. My one requirement is to keep it simple and in that way keep it (hopefully) in the same "mood" as my entire kitchen...sort of mellow.

Anyone have any thoughts for me? Pictures would be wonderful of course! Thanks - SQ

Sink wall, which will have open shelving on both sides of the window. They will be the sage color of the narrow cabinet.

The oven wall - I had hoped to do something a little special behind the range. Maybe some type of accent tile in ORB? This is the wall with the most backsplash.

Then there is just this itsty bitsy little bit of backsplash under the window by the "bar" -

As an aside: we are set to have our cracked Blanco sink removed on Thursday. I'm trying not to think about it because every time I do, it makes my stomach hurt!

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Comments (20)

ellendi
12 years ago
Don't have suggestions just yet, but just wanted to say that everything looks wonderful! What a kitchen!
SusieQusie60
Original Author
12 years ago
Thank you so much ellendi. Honestly, my husband and I are both so unbelievably happy with how everything has turned out. It looks the way we wanted it to, and it's serving its purpose exactly as we wanted it to. We absolutely love it. The backsplash is basically the only "unknown" at this point. I really want to get it right! SQ
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I don't have photoshop to help you out but I did play around with paint by cutting and resizing the tile you posted and came up with this.... I'm sure someone else could do much better with photoshop. My advice would be to do a search of the finished backsplashes in the finished kitchens blog. You can get some great ideas there. Then just play around with them in paint until you find a pattern you like. Personally, I think it's a nice match for your cabinets and the paint color on the half wall but it doesn't really do anything for your granite. I think the fire and ice tile would be gorgeous in your kitchen. Check out this post on GW. http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg0916270925739.html Good luck. Here is a link that might be useful: finished kitchens slideshow
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Posted by budgeteer_s (My Page) on Wed, Dec 31, 08 at 18:18 Thanks for all your suggestions. I wanted so much to follow with ci_lantro's suggestion because then I'm done. I'll gladly let you snatch that paint brush out of my hand. ha ha. But at the same time if a little tiling will tie up the project, then I'm game. jodi_socal: I'm a little disappointed when you said fire and ice won't work. I just LOVE that F&I BS. But then agin, I think I know all along it's a little too much for my kitchen. Caryscott & petra: Thanks for the picture petra, it says a thousand words. Is spectralight glass tiles? Prices are pretty reasonable. What about that milk green color? will it work? maybe with some garnet pieces sparingly mixed in. I will take some pictures and post two HD Behr's paint card to aid in the discussion of color. Thanks again ALL! Correction: My tiles were Alfagres: Gema4x4: different from what caryscott posted: I loved what caryscott linked:
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I agree with herbflavor that you should take it step by step (but maybe I disagree with him or her a little on the order). Remove the wall paper. Figure out your lighting plan and get it done. Patch the ceiling and walls and prime them so you have a neutral starting point. Are the light bulbs in the can lights and island fixture LED, incandescent or fluorescent? If LED what temperature? 2700K warm or 3000K soft white? The lighting in the photos is not flattering and may be making it look much different than it actually is. You may need to buy some different bulbs and try them out to see what you like. I wouldn't do anything with colors until the above is done and you can see how it works with what you are going to keep: cabinets, floor, and counters. Then you can decide whether you want to go with a single metal for the light fixtures and knobs or mixed metals. The main reason I'd replace the backsplash is it will help make the room feel more contemporary. With the black appliances and sinks it probably would work but the 4" tiles make it look dated. At this point you may also want to consider bringing in a designer because I think the balance between existing and new colors will get complicated. Also I'd hold open the possibility of a paint color other than Revere Pewter with the cream cabinets and golden oak (something less green and more like barncatz's photos above). Something to consider if she likes that look. Paint a 2 foot by 2 foot piece of foam core with the Revere Pewter and move it about the room at different times of the day. Revere Pewter can look very different under changing lighting conditions. Personally I would not mix yellow/gold with green but it really will depend on the room (which looks like it never gets a lot of natural light?)
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ptamom
12 years ago
I honestly love it just like this! Especially the wall with your sink and pendant lights. The wall color is perfect. Off the top of my head, maybe this in parchment? It's Artisan by Adex. It has beautiful crazing.

Here is a link that might be useful: click here
honorbiltkit
12 years ago
SQ, your palette is so delicately muted that it might be worth your while to bring home some samples of every white or near-white subway tile you can lay hands on. (Subway for the color testing, only because they come in so many shades and finishes.)

Try using masking tape to attach critical masses of the colors you think you like to all the backsplash walls in your kitchen, and contemplating them in natural light at different times of day as well as in your installed light. With luck, one of the colors will scream "c'est moi!" in all the light variations.

I suggest this level of investigation because I ended up quite surprised with my own "white" backsplash. Not displeased, actually, just surprised.

Attached is a link to a shop that carries lines of ceramic tiles in lovely subtle colors, including a beadboard tile that comes in two whites and a beige. If you find a set of colors that look promising to you, you can probably find tiles the same manufacturer at a local shop.

The results of your fifteen zillion decisions so far warrant your throwing yourself once more into the fray.

Best of luck. hbk

Here is a link that might be useful: Tileshop ceramic tile lines
SusieQusie60
Original Author
12 years ago
ptamom and honorbiltkit - thanks for your thoughtful answers. I appreciate them so much. SQ
ellendi
12 years ago
I can see cream tiles, but somehow bringing it the green from your hutch. Maybe in a design above your stove? What color is the granite?
SusieQusie60
Original Author
12 years ago
ellendi - here's a pretty decent picture of my granite:

Cream was actually my original original thought (a long long time ago.) Part of my concern now is the bright white that I've brought in (my trim, my stools, my dishes.) I feel like the dark creamy cabinets have enough contrast to be OK with the white. I guess when I first think of "cream" I think light, but maybe I should be thinking about a darker cream? And then maybe I can find some type of accent in the sage color to so "something" behind the range? I'm just trying to get some ideas in my head before we go down to meet with the tile guy. ;->
boylanite2
12 years ago
Wow....very nice! Can you tell me about your stools? I love the fact that the back is on the lower side and may be just what I am looking for. TIA
SusieQusie60
Original Author
12 years ago
boylanite2 - I got the stools at Ikea for $60 each. I LOVE them. I actually bought 4, liked them so much I went back and got 2 more. They are called "Ingolf" and they are all considered "bar stools" - even the counter height like mine. The actual "bar height" ones are available too, for a little more money. They come in an antiqued wood color as well.
uroboros5
12 years ago
You may consider this:

It's called ARABESQUE.
chitown_remodel
12 years ago
SusieQuise your kitchen looks great! I love those bar stools and I am so glad they were reasonable and from IKEA! (I live 5 minutes from one!)

That arabesque tile is gorgeous. I might steal it.
petra66_gw
12 years ago
How about these tiles by Daltile! I really like the idea of a white backsplash to tie it in the other white accesories. And don't you just love the Ingolf stools, even though they are all wood, they are so comfortable.

Here is a link that might be useful: Daltile Octagon and Dot in white with matte white dots
steph2000
12 years ago
Holy smokes, that beadboard tile is neat. I didn't even know they made something like that. I love it.

I'm also a fan of tone-on-tone basketweaves.

They apparently even make some in something approaching subway size...

It seems to me that both of these ideas provide texture and character and warmth and fit with your look. Of course, subway would do that, also. It's just we see so much subway and your style could also lend itself to some equally great but unique tiles/shapes.

And, of course, I love beekeeper's arabesque. One of the most beautiful tiles in the world, IMHO.

Perhaps it is worth getting samples of actual tiles up and see how things look then. You might need batches of samples, though, to really get a sense of what kind of texture/lines you are liking and not liking.
SusieQusie60
Original Author
12 years ago
I've seen beekeeper's tile so many times, and I agree - it is spectacular. I love it. Do you guys think it would look good in my kitchen?

The Daltile Octagon isn't something I've thought about. It does look sort of old fashioned to me, which is right up my alley!

And the basketweave? That's something I pointed out to my husband months ago, before we were really even in the planning stages of our project. I like the look.

I'm more than willing to go out to get some samples of whatever I can find. I think I definitely need to see some things up on my wall in order to make a decision! I think that IF it will look good, I would go with white. One friend told me definitely NOT to go with white because that's my "trim" color, it shouldn't be my backsplash color. She thought it wouldn't look right. Boy, I'd almost forgotten how much fun (not) these decisions can be! Thanks -

SQ
boxerpups
12 years ago
Creamy whites....

{{!gwi}}
ellendi
12 years ago
I love BK's tiles. Just not in your kitchen. Your kitchen has a different feel to me.
I wouldn't go with white tile.Or by white do you mean off white or a tone that matches your cabinets. I am not sure why you are bringing your trim into the equation. I don't think it is a deal breaker when picking the backsplash.
Looking forward to seeing what you find.
steph2000
12 years ago
off-whites....and yummy range hoods.... *stares with envy*

I don't know, but for what it is worth, I see a white backsplash in your kitchen...
SusieQusie60
Original Author
12 years ago
Yes Steph, I too "stare with envy" at those beautiful range hoods. Would have loved one, but alas.....

But I digress. The plan of action is to head to the tile store (with my husband) and see what I can find and then get some samples to bring home. I've definitely gotten some good ideas from this thread. Glad I asked. I think I'll check out some subway tiles (in white and maybe a couple of different shades of cream/tan) and I'll probably look at some different "shapes" as well and also a basketweave. And maybe I can bring in the sage green color with something behind the range, or maybe stick with my original idea of using some sort of ORB accent tiles. Lots of things to consider!! Thanks again to everyone.
pamike1
12 years ago
SQ

I like your original idea of beadboard tile. Here's a link for this product by Crossville if just for a price comparison, on sale btw until July 25th. Happy shopping

Here is a link that might be useful: Sample beadboard tile
SusieQusie60
Original Author
12 years ago
pamike1 - I had my heart set on that beadboard tile for quite awhile. What I did was "draw it out" on paper, and hang it on my wall - to get an idea of how it would look. Unfortunately, I didn't really love it. (Neither did my husband, my daughter or my builder.) Now, I don't know if it's because I was looking at paper with lines drawn on it, and it obviously didn't really look like the backsplash would. I mean, I drew it like beadboard, but a piece of paper is NOT going to be the same as actual tile - in color or texture or anything else. So I guess it's still in my "bag of tricks"...I'd just need to try to find a real sample to tell for sure. Thanks for the thought and the link! SQ